Cozy Cat Lounge opens in Cambridge

By Heather Sevigny

A new kind of gathering place has arrived in Cambridge, and it’s filled with soft paws, warm cookies and the quiet hum of content purring.

The Cozy Cat Lounge officially opened to the public Jan. 20, welcoming its first guests to a space designed for connection and feline rescue. The lounge is owned and operated by Cassandra Dilley, who said her lifelong love of cats and desire to help them find homes inspired the business.

“I’ve always loved cats,” Dilley said. “I want to help them get off the streets and also stay out of cages at the same time. This helps the community and the cats.” The lounge is the first of its kind to open in Guernsey County.

Cat-themed lounges and cafes have opened up in other Ohio cities in recent years. In Zanesville, the popular The Chatty Cat Cafe blends a coffee shop with an adoptable cat lounge, helping dozens of cats find forever homes while serving drinks and snacks to visitors. In Columbus, the Kitty Bubble Cafe & Bar offers a bubble-tea and coffee experience alongside space to interact with adoptable cats, partnering with local rescue organizations to match pets with new families.

The cats at Cozy Cat Lounge come from several area rescue organizations, including the Muskingum County Humane Society, the Guernsey County Humane Society and Noble County partners. Dilley plans to house up to 15 cats at a time.

When you first enter, the lounge area features a large open space with ample seating and a viewing window into the cat room. Visitors can read, play board games, or simply spend time relaxing. For a nominal fee, guests can book time inside the cat room to sit and play with the adoptable animals.

 

Guests can also enjoy homemade baked goods, including decorated sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, Rice Krispies treats, and cake pops, all made and perfected by Dilley herself.

Opening day brought a steady flow of curious customers, many of whom returned for more treats after their first visit. Dilley said the lounge logged more than 20 bookings on its first day, sold dozens of cookies and keychains, and stayed busy well past closing time.

All cats at the lounge are fully vetted before arrival, with each being spayed or neutered, vaccinated, tested and quarantined through their respective organizations. Cozy Cat Lounge functions as a foster-style environment, giving cats a calm, home-like setting where potential adopters can interact with them outside of traditional shelter cages.

Adoptions are processed through the rescue groups, with an $80 adoption fee. Interested adopters can complete paperwork at the lounge, where they can assist with ensuring payments are directed to the organization responsible for each cat.

Visiting the lounge costs $7 per person for 30 minutes or $10 for an hour. Reservations are encouraged but not required, and walk-ins are welcome. The lounge limits the number of guests in the cat room at any given time to maintain a calm and safe environment.

“Be a decent human and be kind to the kitties,” Dilley said. “Don’t wake a sleeping cat, and don’t feed them unless we give you treats, no horseplay, no food in there.” The full list is available online, and those making reservations must agree to the terms and conditions to proceed with booking.

Dilley said the community response has been overwhelmingly positive. “Cambridge needs this,” she said.

Looking ahead, Dilley hopes to eventually expand offerings to include specialty coffee and to participate in more community events, all while keeping the main mission front and center.

“The main goal is to get as many cats adopted as we can; to give them forever homes,” she said.

The Cozy Cat Lounge is now open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week, and is located at 1300 Clark St., Suite 1, Cambridge. Rules and booking information can be found on the lounge’s website, www.cozycatlounge.net, and social media pages.

Photos by Heather Sevigny